Fortnite: Battle Royale had long not received an age rating from the USK. While the original Fortnite – Save the World – was clearly rated 12 and older, there had been no age rating for the Battle Royale game until now. That has now changed.
At what age is Fortnite now? After almost 2 years, the USK has finally issued an age rating for Fortnite: Battle Royale. The game is now rated for ages 12 and older as well. This means it has the same USK rating as the original Fortnite, which is now called “Save the World”.
Fortnite is now generally rated for ages 12 and older
Why did Battle Royale only get its age rating now? While the PVE mode Save the World has always been rated 12 and older, there had been no classification for Battle Royale until now. There is a simple reason for this: The USK classification is only mandatory for games that are released on physical media. Purely online titles, which can only be obtained as downloads, are not required to undergo mandatory certification. However, there is a voluntary option for a USK certification.
In a new evaluation that took place on July 16, 2019, both Save the World and Battle Royale were now tested by the USK. Now both versions carry the same green “Rated 12” logo of the USK.
Curiously, the evaluation likely applies only to the versions on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The mobile versions appear not to have undergone any assessment yet.
What is changing now for the players? First of all, nothing, because the USK rating only applies here and is unlikely to prompt Epic to change game content.
However, some children who are not yet 12 years old might now be kept away from Fortnite, as parents may not allow their children to play a game that is not age-appropriate according to the USK.
The minimum age for tournaments in Fortnite – like the big WM 2019 recently – is currently 13 years. According to the USK, German players are therefore supposed to start playing officially only one year before the official tournament age.
On the other hand, such classifications are only binding for retailers. For parents, they are merely recommendations that are not always followed, as an example from England shows:
